Oh Japan…have I told you lately that I love you?

You’ve given me some of the coolest, strangest, and most downright preposterous topics to write about of all time.  And today, you’ve given me a topic that’s ALL THREE.  You’ve given me a topic that proves conclusively that you’re going insane and yet you’re also brilliant.

You’ve given me the Tele Scouter, a headset-mounted translation device.

Yes, it’s actually called the Scouter.  For those of you now about to quote Dragon Ball Z, indeed, his power level is over nine thousand.

Anyway, the Tele Scouter uses an imaging device to project images directly onto your retina, and the images in question are fields of text, generated by voice recognition and translation programs that literally show you what someone else is saying, in your language, before your very eyes.

And it’s not just translation, either–there’s talk these can be used in sales pitches to get instant access to customers’ shopping records via face recognition technology.  Now, I don’t know what the long term ramifications are of getting all that light shined directly onto your retina, but the thought of an instant translator IS pretty cool.  The price is pretty salty, as you might expect–about eighty three thousand dollars for a set of thirty, plus the cost of any custom software to go with it.

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If you or someone you love has chronic heart problems, like the kind that took my grandfather, then you might well be interested to hear about the results of the three month test that’s currently in its second month for a kind of portable heart monitor that can send data back to medical professionals automatically on a regular basis.

In a partnership with Gen-i and Alcatel-Lucent, the gear in question uses a Bluetooth system (ah, Bluetooth–what can’t you do?) to, with the press of a button on the control unit, take blood pressure and weight readings from an electronic scale at the patients’ houses and sends them to hospital staff.

The technology in question is easily portable, allowing patients to continue living fairly normal lives while getting treatment, and allows medical professionals to free up hospital rooms and also keep themselves from getting tied down to their own offices.  In fact, the guy you see above is one of the current test subjects, and he’s reporting a whole lot of positives from the new technology.

The trial is expected to finish up in December and results released early 2010.

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The Punjab police, ladies and gentlemen, have stepped boldly into twenty-first century law enforcement technology by receiving a consignment of Tasers, the first of their kind in India.

They’ve become both ubiquitous and infamous in the United States, the devices fire a pair of darts connected to the base unit by thin cables with transmit an electrical current into the subject, thus incapacitating him.

The Punjab police have apparently ordered enough Tasers to outfit two entire battalions.

Tales of gross misuse of Tasers follow them literally everywhere, with the classic cry of “Don’t tase me, bro!” intermingling with stories of the devices being used for torture as they don’t leave marks on the body.  Considering the sheer amount of bad press these things have taken over the years, it’s a wonder any police department is actually looking at them.

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All right, road warriors, pay attention–because this is some really awesome news, especially if you have to do a lot of time-zone hopping in the course of your travels.  This is also awesome for anyone with a hugely variable schedule that requires you to work, and sleep, at different times every day.

We’re talking about Daylight Savers from Flinders Tech, glasses with a pair of bright blue LED lights that shine directly into your eyes, causing a delay in your circadian rhythm.  Now, circadian rhythms are those things that generally cause you to get tired at the same time every day, or wake up at about the same time every day, or even get hungry at certain times.

There are literally dozens of different uses for this product, though I have to wonder about the long term effects of artificially altering your circadian rhythms. However, for people whose time clocks are already out of whack, this could be the answer to your prayers.

They’re not yet ready for market, so there’s no pricing or release data, but they hope to have them available within the next year.

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Flashback to a time when facial recognition seemed so far off from reality.  Now open your eyes.  This FaceID system can recognize up to 500 different faces using a pair of digital cameras to create a 3-D image of your face.  After that it runs a face detection algorithm to determine if the image matches the one in the database.

Thanks to the 3-D imagery it prevents you from holding up a picture and scamming the system but that’s not to say that a blow up doll wouldn’t work.  Claiming less than a 0.0001% margin of error and can adjust to various light conditions on the fly.

Capable of integrating with a Wiegand Interface for controlling security systems, you can purchase this FaceID Recognition Device for $447 at the ChinaVision website.

[via Technabob]

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There’s a startup company out there called Backyard Brains, run by a pair of neuroscientists who are marketing a piece of equipment they designed and built themselves called the SpikerBox.  And when you hear what this thing can do, you might be interested in becoming a shade tree neuroscientist yourself.

So what does a SpikerBox do?  Well, basically…it lets you read the minds of insects.

With a SpikerBox, you can effectively “eavesdrop” on the patterns of neurons firing in a bug’s mind by inserting metal probes into that insect’s leg.  The probes then transmit back data on the bug’s neural activity, called “spikes”, which can then be translated into sounds you can hear on the device’s onboard speaker or seen on your PC.

Admittedly, there’s not a whole lot of practical use for the SpikerBox, but it’s still a pretty sweet idea.  You ever read the mind of  a bug before?  SpikerBox is counting on your desire to do exactly that, and they’re looking for grant funding right now.

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When you think of General Electric, the first thing to spring to mind might be light bulbs, or possibly NBC.  But I doubt you think of portable ultrasound gadgets, and that’s a shame.  Because as it turns out, they’ve just invented one.

It’s called the GE VScan Portable Ultrasound, and soon, you too can be jumping from pregnant belly to pregnant belly, offering a sneak peek at Junior.  Hopefully you also know a good lawyer to boost you out of the looney bin if you actually try that.

But actually, this may be a pretty fair idea.  Think about the concept of an EMT with the ability to notice fluid around the heart in the ambulance ride to the hospital.  Cardiologists could have at their fingertips near-instant access to ultrasound gear instead of scheduling it at a larger facility.  And they could do this for far, FAR less money than the average ultrasound gear.

No word as yet on when this will be released, but it’s a pretty awesome idea when you come down to it.

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Another snoopy fitness gadget comes our way in the form of the Fitbit, which took the TechCrunch 50 by storm last year but couldn’t seem to get off the ground.  But it’s now got a launch date scheduled–this Tuesday.

The ninety nine dollar FitBit will clip to your clothes and, based on your movement, help determine how much exercise you’ve been getting and how many calories you’ve burned thanks to an internal motion detector.  Even better, you can keep track of all that stuff in a direct, graphic fashion by checking an icon of a flower on the side of the device that grows as your activity level grows.  And if you’re not that into flowers, word is you can actually change that icon.

But that’s not all!  If you wear the FitBit while you sleep, that motion detection hardware can actually track your SLEEP patterns based on how often you move in a day.  No worries if you don’t wear much that you can clip it to–the FitBit will work just fine on a wristband.

So if you’re out to get fit, the FitBit may be able to help.

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If you’re having a tough time keeping your weight down, you may be interested to know that a new gadget is available to help.  It’s called the Bodybugg and it helps in pretty much every aspect of weight loss.

The Bodybugg measures skin temperature and motion to get an idea of what kind of movement you’re  engaging in, and thus get a better idea of your muscle use and therefore exercise.  Plus, there’s a pedometer, and can coordinate with a web based program to help you monitor your food intake.

It’s battery operated and the people behind it claim a ninety percent accuracy rate in terms of measurement, so you’ll be able to get a handle on things even if it isn’t total accuracy.  They retail for about two hundred and fifty dollars, so you’ll be able to get your hands on one without too much trouble.

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Perhaps you’ve got plans for a trip abroad that include a ’seedy’ location with the potential for criminal threat lurking at every corner.  Sure, locking your luggage would be a great solution, but generally speaking fumbling for a key to access its contents is, well, just not cool or practical.  There to excel you into tech wowness is Heys USA, Inc., who will launch a 19-inch and 20-inch suitcase with built-in fingerprint reader.  The Biocase consists of a ‘indestructible’ hard shell and can be accessed by up to 8 stored fingerprints.  If your travels are longer than 90 days then you’ll want to tote along the included USB charger.

The Biocases are hitting the street this April for a yet to be disclosed price.

Full release below

Miami – March 1, 2009 – Heys USA, Inc., the inventor of the “The World’s Lightest Carry-on Luggage” and leader in innovative, hard side luggage, announces the BioCase, a line of both a 19” business case and a 20” carry-on luggage piece which both requires the owner’s fingerprint for accessibility when locked. Retailer availability will begin in April 2009.

The BioCase features exclusive biometric (fingerprint) technology that unlocks when memorized fingerprints access the case. The cases are nearly indestructible with their hard side design, adding even more security and protection during your travels.  The 19” business case converts to an overnighter, removing the need for two luggage items.  The 20” carry-on fits easily into airline overhead compartments.  Each case will “memorize” up to eight fingerprints with a memory that remains charged for 90 days.  Each case can be fully charged using a power adapter or USB plug. Both cases are lightweight and created with ease of transport in mind with ergonomic, non-slip TRP comfort grips.  Each comes with a full lined interior and is made with the highest quality materials.

“Heys has established a standard of excellence by providing function, quality, and durability without compromising style, “ commented Heys USA President and CEO, Harry Sheikh. “And now it is time for us to leverage technology to rewrite the rules of luggage.  It is what our customers have come to expect from Heys USA.”

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Vein Scanners are nothing new, but we have yet to see them gain significant ground in the consumer market.  Today, Sony announced a compact finger vein authentication technology that is small enough to fit on a mobile phone.  Called the Mofiria, it works by shooting LED light through the finger.  The CMOS sensor (widely used in cameras) then captures the information, and then though some algorithmic magic creates a sort of pass code based off the finger’s vein structure.

Sony plans to bring the Mofiria technology to the commercial market this fiscal year.

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Apparently, when Fujitsu says ‘peace of mind’ they mean it.  Why so?  They’re latest phone, which is available on Japan’s NTT DOCOMO network, features fingerprint security and the ability to be submersed in 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes.  The F-01A’s fingerprint scanner, which is from AuthenTec’s TouchStone packaging technology, also doubles as a mini mouse pad.  Other features includes a 5MP camera, GPS, 3.5-inch touchscreen, 1Seg Mobile TV tuner and e-Wallet mobile payment.

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Scott A. Jones won a contract with the telephone industry back in the late 80s to develop a mass level voicemail system. He also invented Gracenote and a few other things. As a result, he’s been ‘paid’, and his home in Indianapolis reflects it with opulence you and I could never even begin to dream up. Hit the videos for a complete walk through of his mansion, but my faves have to be the 8 screen computer with built-in bicycle, eye scanner to enter his own bedroom, waterfall shower that drops 300 gallons a minute and multiple secret passage ways.

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Two Chinese students have invented a device that might mean ‘giving the finger’ before you even start your car.  Zhao Wencai and Li Zhoumu, from China’s University of Geoscience, have built a finger print reader that doubles as a blood alcohol detector.  It’s purely a prototype, but it works by detecting sweat and other chemicals on the skin.  If you’re dripping with alcohol you won’t be able to start your vehicle.  Additionally, the finger print reader will double as a security device and will only let registered finger prints start the vehicle.

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You’ll breath easy with the Digital Breathazlyer from BACTrack.  Aside from knowing if you’re too trashed to drive, you don’t have to place your mouth on a bacteria infested straw; just blow into the front of the device.  It’ll measure your drunkness on a scale of 0.00 – 0.40% BAC, has an easy to read LCD display and features an indicator light to tell you when to start and stop blowing.

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More pics after the ‘leap’

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You know those Vein scanners we talked about a couple months and some ago?  Well, it looks like they are finally making their way into some consumer level products.  The keyboard here features a Vein scanner for computer security.  Veins are said to be almost impossible to hack, and unlike fingerprint scanners you can’t chop off the appendage as blood has to be flowing for the biometric scanner to function. 

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